Your baby's health should always be at the top of your concerns, so it's important for moms and dads to know what are the 8 serious signs of illness in babies.
1. Fever
You'll be surprised to know that fever itself isn't an illness by itself, but rather it's the body's response to an illness, usually an infection.
Fever alongside lethargy, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light can sometimes mean a more severe ailment, such as meningitis. So it's important for parents to constantly monitor their baby's temperature if their child has a fever.
2. Dehydration
Dehydration happens if the child has a fever, is placed in an environment that's too warm, or is experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.
Dehydration is extremely dangerous, and it's important for parents to replenish their child's fluids if they see that their baby is dehydrated.
Having a dry mouth and gums, less frequent diaper changes, shedding no tears when crying, and a sunken fontanel are all signs of dehydration that parents need to watch out for.
3. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is sometimes common in infants, but you should be concerned if you notice that there's blood in your baby's stool.
Blood in your child's stool can sometimes appear bright red, or black if it's a more serious condition.
4. Vomiting
It's common for infants to sometimes spit up their milk, such as when they're already full. However, vomiting can sometimes be a serious concern, especially if it happens more than twice in a short period of time.
If their vomit contains blood or has a green color to it, make sure to contact your doctor immediately since it can possibly be a severe ailment.
5. Difficulty breathing
Anytime you see your baby have some difficulty breathing, it's important to contact your doctor immediately since it's a serious concern.
Signs of breathing difficulty include the following:
- Rapid breathing
- Tissue above the abdomen is getting sucked in when your baby inhales
- Grunting sound when exhaling
- Your baby's head bobs when breathing
- Your baby's lips develop a bluish tinge
6. Redness, oozing or bleeding
If you can see any redness, oozing, or bleeding around your baby's navel, then it's a sign that your child's navel is infected.
Make sure to immediately call your doctor so that they can prescribe treatment for your child's infection before it escalates further.
7. Rashes
It's normal for babies to have rashes, but if the rash is too large, or covers a part of the face, then it might be infected.
In some cases, infected rashes can exhibit oozing, bleeding, swelling, and are sometimes accompanied by a fever.
8. Colds
Colds are pretty common among infants and newborns. These usually last for about 1-2 weeks, and accompanied by a runny nose, fever, and poor appetite.
However, there are certain symptoms that accompany colds that can mean your child has a serious illness:
- Fever and a temperature that's higher than 100.4 F
- Rashes or difficulty breathing
- Your baby is unusually fussy
- A severe cough that brings up blood
- Vomiting
- Symptoms that last for more than 2 weeks
Source: sheknows.com
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